Mrs. Margaret S. Johnson Motley

Margaret Sharon Johnson Motley was born on June 3, 1947, to the union of the late Thelma Galbreath and Elza Dozier of Idabel, Oklahoma.

Margaret graduated from Lincoln High School in 1965 where she was a Majorette and excelled in academics.  She earned the #1 spot in Secretarial and Shorthand studies which would later help her land her job at Western Union.  In high school, she and friends Brenda Pettaway, Jackie Welton, Carlotta Dickson and Clotee Sims Harris formed club Les Jeunes Filles.  They kept in touch with each other through the years and still meet to this day.

In 1969, she married Dorson Johnson, to that union was born her only child, Kelly Douglas Johnson. In 1992, she married the love of her life, James Motley Jr. 

Margaret worked hard all of her life.  She started working at Velvet Freeze Ice in high school and moved onto Western Union where she worked as a Telegraph Operator for more than 20 years.  She later worked at the Jackson County Election Board, helping to oversee the voting process.  She was very passionate about voting and the political process.  She made sure her friends and family were up to date on all that was going on politically around them; texting information in the late nights and early mornings.  She was also passionate about Civil Rights and wanted everyone around her to know and exercise their rights.  She even went to the White House and received an award from President Jimmy Carter.

Margaret Sharon Johnson Motley left this earthly life on July 26, 2023.

Margaret leaves to mourn her passing her husband James Motley, Jr., son Kelly Johnson; grandsons Joshua and Matthew Johnson; granddaughter Alexis Swinney; siblings Brenda Dozier (Atlanta), Fletta Dozier Quinney (Texas), Lisa Dozier (KCMO), Tina Darlene Dozier (KCMO), Elza Dozier Jr. (St. Joseph, MO) and Vincent Smith of Chicago (Carmesha); sister/cousin Barbara Harris Grayson (Idabel, OK); sister Verlene Reid (KCMO) and a host of other family and friends.

Memorial service will be held Monday August 7, 2023, 11:00am at Watkins Heritage Chapel. Service conducted by Watkins Heritage Chapel. Condolences may be shared on our website. Service live stream https://www.youtube.com/@dignifieddigitaltynetwork 

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